Earth stars
| Earth stars | ||||||||||||
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Ruff earth star ( Geastrum triplex ) |
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| Geastrum | ||||||||||||
| Pers. |
Earth stars ( Geastrum ) are a genus of mushrooms from the family of earth star relatives . Today they are classified in the order of the earth star-like (Geastrales). The classification of the belly mushrooms (Gastromycetes or Gasteromycetes) is out of date. This also applies to the classification to the stinkhorn-like (phallales). The generic name is derived from the Greek words ge for earth and aster or astron for star.
features
Macroscopic features
The earth stars initially grow underground and have a spherical, closed shape. The thick outer shell (exo peridia ) consists of 3 layers, the mycelial, fiber and pseudoparenchyma layer (from the outside in). The latter is responsible for tearing open the peridia; it swells up so that the shell of the fruiting body bursts open in a star shape starting from the apex. The resulting flaps bend outwards so that the inner spherical shell (endoperidia) with the spores it contains lifts up to the surface of the earth. In the nest earth stars, the outer mycelial layer separates from the fiber layer down to the tips of the lobes and remains in the ground, so that only the two inner layers curve outwards and the fruiting body is separated from the mycelium . In the case of the giant earth star ( G. melanocephalum ), the very thin inner and outer shell remains connected, so that the fruit part ( gleba ) is exposed when it is opened . The stalk of the inner part of the fruiting body is called columella. There is a small hole in the top of the shell. The mouth of the opening is called the peristome. It can be smooth, fibrous or furrowed. If one or more raindrops fall on it, the spores in the shell can escape due to the pressure created - similar to the puffers - and thus ensure the spread of the species. Some species are hygroscopic , so they open and close when damp in drought.
Microscopic features
The spherical spores are warty and measure three to seven micrometers.
ecology
Most earth stars grow in steppes or on sandy soil; many species also like dry and warm conditions. The earth stars live on dead organic material.
species
There are around 60 species worldwide. Around two dozen species occur in Europe or can be expected there.
| Earth stars ( Geastrum ) in Europe |
Eyelashed earth star
Geastrum fimbriatum
Big nest earth star
Geastrum fornicatum
Dwarf earth star
Geastrum minimum
Comb earth star
Geastrum pectinatum
Small nest earth star
Geastrum quadrifidum
Reddening earth star
Geastrum rufescens
Sunken earth star
Geastrum saccatum
Collared earth star
Geastrum striatum
Frill earth star
Geastrum triplex
meaning
The earth stars are not to be used as edible mushrooms , they are inedible. However, some authors suspect that the young fruiting bodies that are still underground are edible.
history
The earliest recorded mention of earth stars was by Christophoro Merrett in a listing and description of British plants in 1667.
In December 1744 the English pharmacist, physician and naturalist Sir William Watson (1715–1787) published an initial description of the mushroom genus Erdsterne ( Geastrum ), which aroused great interest among European botanists .
swell
literature
- German Josef Krieglsteiner (Eds.), Andreas Gminder , Wulfard Winterhoff: Die Großpilze Baden-Württemberg . Volume 2: Stand mushrooms: inguinal, club, coral and stubble mushrooms, belly mushrooms, boletus and deaf mushrooms. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8001-3531-0 .
- Jacob Christian Schäffer: Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam nascentur icones nativa coloribus expressa, Ratisbonate . tape 2 . Regensburg 1763 ( available online ).
- Bub Scheidewig, Heiner Scheidewig: The starry sky on earth . In: The Tintling . Issue 2/2016, No. 99 , 2016, ISSN 1430-595X , p. 39–48 (20 species in portrait).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Helmut Genaust: Etymological dictionary of botanical plant names. 3rd, completely revised and expanded edition. Nikol, Hamburg 2005, ISBN 3-937872-16-7 (reprint from 1996).
- ↑ a b c Andreas Gminder: Manual for mushroom collectors . Identify 340 species of Central Europe with certainty. Kosmos, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-440-11472-8 , pp. 338 .
- ↑ Eric Strittmatter: The genus Geastrum . In: Fungiworld.com Mushroom Taxa Database. June 13, 2008, archived from the original on January 23, 2013 ; accessed on August 21, 2012 (including update no. 49).
- ↑ Christophoro Merrett: Pinax rerum naturalium Britannicarum: continens vegetabilia, animalia, et ... 1667, p. 42 ( available online ).
Web links
- François Brunelli, Heinz Göpfert: The Gastromycetes - The Belly Mushrooms (5): The Earth Stars. In: The page for the beginner . Swiss Association of Official Fungal Control Bodies (VAPKO), accessed on March 23, 2016 (Xander's 34th mushroom letter).